BOC: Rice shipment delays not due to port congestion

(INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / MICHAEL JAUCIAN)

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Customs (BOC) clarified on Saturday that the potential rice shipment delays are not caused by congestion in Manila ports but due to pending requirements the consignees need to comply with.

This came after concerns were raised that shipment delays may affect rice prices due to unreleased rice shipments.

“[T]he rice shipments are ready for release once consignees fulfill their responsibilities, and the accumulation at the ports is not due to any delay caused by congestion,” the BOC said in a statement.

According to the BOC, 258 shipping containers with rice are still at the Port of Manila where 237 of these are cleared for release upon payment of duties and taxes while the remaining 21 containers are still being processed to be cleared after presenting the Goods Declaration on Friday.

Meanwhile, 630 rice containers remain at the Manila International Container Port where 492 have already been cleared for release while the 138 others are still pending.

The BOC underscored that no rice shipments have exceeded the 30-day period containment at the ports, otherwise, the agency will declare the containers abandoned.

As mandated by the Section 1129(d) of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, shipments should be claimed within 30 days and should be cleared from payment of duties and taxes.

BOC Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio urged the consignees to sign the requirements needed to release the shipments, adding that “[t]he BOC stands ready to enforce abandonment proceedings as mandated by law if goods remain unclaimed.”

The Department of Agriculture urged the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) on Thursday to speed up the release of over 800 container vans loaded with rice that have been in Manila ports for months.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel said on Monday that port congestion and delayed rice import shipments keep the price of rice high.

Agri party-list Rep. Wilbert Lee also called on the BOC and PPA to fast track the release of the containers since “every delay in unloading rice cargoes not only adds to costs but also worsens the situation for consumers, especially with inflation.”